Freed Huhne Says Prison Was 'Humbling'

Chris Huhne has described prison as a "humbling and sobering experience" as he arrived home after spending almost two months in jail.

The former Cabinet minister and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were both released from prison early on Monday after around nine weeks behind bars.

They were each sentenced to eight months in March for perverting the course of justice a decade ago when Pryce took speeding points for her then husband.

Huhne, 58, left Leyhill Prison in Gloucestershire and returned to the home he shares with girlfriend Carina Trimingham to start rebuilding his life.

With Ms Trimingham at his side, the former Energy Secretary apologised again for his crime and thanked his supporters for standing by him.

"I would just like to say once again, as you know from the night I was sentenced, I said that I was very sorry for what I had done," he said.

"It has been a humbling and sobering experience. I would like to thank all of those who have written to me - hundreds of letters that I have had - and all my family and friends who stood by me.

"And I would also just remind you that I have served only part of my sentence and therefore it is not appropriate to say more.

"I would now like to get on, get back to home, and continue with my life."

His statement came after Pryce, 60, also returned to London after she was freed from East Sutton Park open prison near Maidstone.

She left the jail through a back entrance to avoid the press but later posed for pictures outside her south London home and released a statement through her solicitor Robert Brown.

He said: "Vicky Pryce is very pleased to be home and back with her family.

"She is grateful for all the support she has received from everyone whilst in prison, including her fellow residents and prison staff.

"She now intends to spend time with her family and looks forward to returning to her career as an economist."

Mr Brown revealed that Pryce, a former Government advisor, is considering writing about the economics of the criminal justice system.

Asked about the first thing she wanted to do, the mother-of-five smiled as she said she wanted a cup of coffee and then went inside.

For sentences under a year, an offender is automatically freed after serving half their sentence.

Those serving between three months and four years, with certain exceptions for violent and sexual offenders, may also be eligible for release on a home detention curfew.

This allows an offender to leave prison up to 135 days before their automatic release date.

Both Pryce and Huhne will now have to wear electronic tags, which are used to enforce either a timed curfew or a place of residence.

Allegations about the points swap only emerged in the press in 2011 after Huhne, then a high-flying politician, dumped his wife for another woman.

During Pryce's trial, it emerged she had deliberately leaked the story in a bid to "nail" her former husband after he left her for Ms Trimingham.

Huhne repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and battled to get the case dismissed before eventually admitting his guilt on the first day of his trial in February.

His fall from grace was complete when they were both sentenced to jail terms after a jury decided Pryce was also guilty and had not been forced to take the points.

The pair are still yet to hear how much they will have to pay for the cost of their prosecution.

The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking more than £100,000 from Huhne, but the former Lib Dem politician's legal team has offered just £25,000.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC told the court: "All of this occurred because Mr Huhne decided to do everything he could to try and get away with what he had done and gave in only at the last minute when defeat was inevitable."

But Huhne's barrister John Kelsey-Fry QC said it was "simply unjust and unreasonable" to expect Huhne to pay what he described as "every single possible penny that anybody could think of".

The CPS is also seeking a total of £48,695.56 from Pryce.